Lot 1665

Description

Canterbury College, presentation trowel, handcrafted in silver with faux bone handle (tot wt 180g, 35x87mm), by H&T, hallmark for Birmingham 1907, inscribed on top surface 'Presented/To/G.W.Russell/Chairman of Board of Governors/of/Canterbury College/By/William Greig & Sons/On the Occasion of Laying the Foundation Stone/of the/Chemical Laboratory/at Canterbury College. June 3rd 1909/Messrs Collins & Harman/Architects'. Extremely fine.

Courtesy National Library of New Zealand - Papers Past.
From the 'Press', 5th June 1909:
"Canterbury College, the New Chemical Laboratory:-
The foundation stone of the new chemical laboratory at Canterbury College was laid by the chairman of the Board of Governors (Mr G.W.Russell, M.P.) yesterday afternoon in the presence of a representative gathering, including members of the Professorial Board, graduates, and students. Mr Russell, after having been presented with a silver trowel on behalf of the contractor, and having declared the corner stone well and truly laid, said it was many years since the old chemical laboratory was erected, and then only as a temporary structure. Since the speaker had been chairman, Professor Evans had worried him continually for a new building. Professor Evans was the most persistent hustler and sticker he ever met in the course of his public career...."